Mechanical and Durability Performance of Eco-Friendly Reinforced Concrete Incorporating Rice Husk Fibres and Waste Ceramic Tile Powder

Abstract

The environmental burden associated with Portland cement production and construction waste disposal has accelerated the development of sustainable cementitious composites. This study evaluates the mechanical and durability performance of eco-friendly reinforced concrete incorporating waste ceramic tile powder (WCTP) as a supplementary cementitious material and rice husk fibres (RHF) as natural reinforcement. Unlike previous studies investigating ceramic powder or natural fibres independently, this work evaluates their combined influence on structural- grade concrete. M30-grade concrete mixtures were produced with 0–30% WCTP replacement and 0–2% RHF content. Fresh properties were assessed through slump and compacting factor tests, while hardened performance was evaluated using compressive strength, water absorption, and sulphate resistance measurements. Results indicate that moderate WCTP replacement (7–15%) improves compressive strength development and durability through filler effects and secondary pozzolanic reactions that refine pore structure. The optimum combination (7% WCTP, 93% PLC, 0% RHF) achieved approximately 12–15% higher 28-day compressive strength compared with the control mix, alongside reduced water absorption and enhanced sulphate resistance at later curing ages. Conversely, increasing RHF content introduced fibre-induced discontinuities that reduced compressive strength, although low fibre dosages maintained acceptable performance. The findings demonstrate that WCTP is a viable low-carbon supplementary cementitious material for structural concrete and provide a sustainable pathway for utilizing agricultural and ceramic waste in environmentally responsible construction.